New Horses!!!!!!!!!

 I've finally rediscovered my creative drive after almost a year of drought, now I've been on a roll for a little over a week and gotten these two guys finished.

 The first is a Albronzo that's been in progress/transition for three years! I call him " Creative Anarchy" because every time I though I had his personality nailed down he did a about face and went in a totally different direction :lol:  He started as a palomino, then became a buckskin, the closest he got to finished was as a very dark liver chestnut with minimal marking, he sat like that for over a year and I just couldn't get motivated to finish detailing him out :( Then last week I realized I have just a little over a month until CRAB and upon review of my collection I found that I had sold about half of what I took last year and found that the humidity of this summer had caused my Emboldened to  slip in his base leaving him leaning against the back of the cabinet and now he has a nice size spot on his barrel :( Anyway all this motivated my to take stock of my body/WIP closet and this guy jumped out at me saying he was ready to be finished so I went at him and turned his liver coat to a sunburned black and added some nice understated tobiano markings and in a effort to expand my horizons I tried my hand a a bi-colored eye which came out surprisingly well.  

 While I was still on CA's marking I grabbed another long running unfinished project from the closet. I got Mini Z dirt cheep on eBay a few years ago, like $25 cheep. Why you might ask? She was third quality, a bubble/divot on her face and no legs from the knees/hocks down :shock:  She was in BAD shape, I sculpted new lower legs with field condition feathering  and filled out her profile to be more stockish and she's sat like that for longer than I want to think about :lol:  While scrolling through my photo morgue in search of pattern references for CA I flashed past some pics of ImAPardoxTu's(I hope you don't mind that I used you gal for insperation and hope that I did her justice :D ) Lacey that she had posted back when she was in foal and knew I had to try is for Z even though it's a very intimidating color/pattern for me. She turned into one very intense week long marathon painting session that commenced just a few hours ago :wink:  Needless to say my hands are very tired and I still have at least three more horses to try to get done before Oct 29, hopefully my muse will stay entertained for awhile longer :lol: 

 So here are the fruits of my labor, what do you think?

Metal Clay and Rediscovering my Muse

 Recently I realized that I had never showed off the Metal Clay project that combines so many of my creative interests.
This piece is titled :"Henna's Horse" and started life last winter as a pen and ink drawing in my series of "Inspired Horses"  then this spring when I started playing in Metal Clay it got drafted to become my first foray into mold carving and casting and I'm really thrilled with how it turned out :)
 In other new my Muse is beginning to peak her her out of the dark corner she's been hiding in, I'm currently working on finishing up/overhauling a Albrozo that has been in the work for two years now. I started him with the intention of him being a dark liver chestnut with just two low stocking on the rear and a star with a stripe but quickly lost interest in him while working on his marking. He is now being reborn as a  lightly sunburned black (luckily a easy transition from liver) moderate splash paint, and boy is he looking good! I'm almost finished his whites, two more coats should do, then I can pink his nose and bits and detail him out and as soon as he's done I'll try to get some decent pics of him to post.

Still no Studio, but yet another new endeavor.

Well I still don't have my studio set up. I got some work started toward that end but we had a very strange winter weather wise that has kept me from transferring the bulk of my equipment from the old house to the new, not to mention having my nephew every day all day. But it's all right as I haven't been inspired in a long time to work on any horses, the most that I've gotten done in the last six months or so is prepping and primming my Valentine and Heartbreaker. I got that far then I started questioning the colors that I had chosen for them, and there they sit, forlornly waiting for me to make up my mind what I want to do with them.

 In the meanwhile I've finally got to put my Jewelry design course to good use. I bit the bullet and invested in a ArtClay silver starter kit and I'm in love!

 This guy is my first project(sorry about the less than stellar pics, sliver is VERY hard to photograph well.) I used ArtClay silver clay that when fired renders to .999 fine silver. This stuff is so cool to use! When in the clay state you can work it just like any air drying clay, then when you fire it, it can be working in all the traditional metalworking techniques. The clay work on this piece was fairly easy for me, I put to use a lot of what I have learned while sculpting in ApoxiSculpt and SuperSculpy for the model horses. The torch firing was a little scary, but after I got in to it, it wasn't as bad as I feared and I didn't melt my pendant. YAY! Once I was done firing I cleaned and polished my pendant and bezel set a itty-bitty round brilliant cut Aquamarine for the eye, this was a learning experience. Silly me I followed the manufactures instruction that said there would be a 8% shrinkage rate, yea, I got maybe a 5% shrinkage so I had to do a LOT more working to get the stone set firmly, but in the end I think it turned out really well for a first try. I titled and signed it "Fighting Fish" on the back, which was super easy to do with a pin tool before firing. Now on to decide which project I want to do next, I have a sketch book with a ton of designs to pick from at the ready. So many designs, so little clay :)

A New Year and New Endenevors

Well since my studio is not yet set up in the new house I've had lots of time to work on other forms of art that I have been letting slide. The biggest and only completed project so far is a series of eight horse head motifs that I not only drew but also digitized in PhotoShop in less than two weeks totally from start to finish. Now that may not sound like a big deal to some people, but for me that is a really quick turnaround on any drawing and add in the fact that this is the first time that I have drawn anything other than realistic style horses Once I had all the horses done I was left wondering what I was going to do with them other than let them sit in my portfolio where no one other than myself would see them. So after I did a little research I went ahead and opened a CafePress shop   http://www.cafepress.com/pydcustoms
and now all my drawing are available on a multitude of products. Now to only have a few spare dollars(in other words I REALLY need to stop buying plastic ponies ) to buy some of my own stuff

The other thing I've been working on is getting back into quilting. I finished a king bedspread top that I had been working on for well over a year, now I just need to back, tie and bind it, the only thing holding me up is some alterations that need to be made on my quilting frame so that it will accommodate a quilt of this size. I also made a quilted tree skirt and matching table runner in a spiral pattern, seeing as some how, during the move we lost the tree skirt that we had I've also ventured into the realm of applique. I made three simple applique wall hangings that I gave away as Christmas gifts, the next applique projects on my to do list is this cute dragon baby blanket that I want to do for my nephew and if I can find a simple enough project a horse themed quilt for my niece. Now to only get my studio set back up so that I can start creating new horses too.

The Holidays are here again.

Wanted to wish everyone a Happy Holiday season and good wishes for the New Year.

Live show Blues

I went to my first live show on Saturday. What a waste of time and money. If that is what all live shows are like I don't know why anyone would bother. I kind of expected other hobbyist to to be you know, friendlier. Wrong. On the one side of me the only words that the lady said to me during the whole ten hours that I was there was "Do you want my extra chair" On the other side was this kid and her entourage(Mom, Dad and Grandmother) whom I was surprised to see there since the show packet clearly stated no children. And of course in the way of things, the kid was a spoiled brat who kept glaring at my half of the table where I had my meager show string laid out. Then when one of the vendors left the show early, her and her parents commandeered that whole table along with the half a table that they already had. I mean really, if they knew she needed a whole table why did they only pay for half?
My other big peeve of the day was one judge in particular who should not have been judging. She must have brought 300+ horses with her and she clearly couldn't manage them, seeing as she was late for every class she entered even the ones before the divisions that she was judging started. Meaning that every class she had horses in, which was most of them, and all the classes she was supposed to be judging was late. Not only that but she was extremely rude to the other judges, snapping at them when they were calling second and third warnings before closing classes for judging and giving final warnings to remove abandonded horses from past classes from the rings, but I also saw her shoving other showers out of her way and just being generally unpleasant.

 As for the actual showing of my horses it was pretty much a bust, only three of my guys that I got to show even placed ,with Lady A being the only one who did fairly well, taking a Reserve Champion in the Trad Other Draft Pure class.

and a fourth in Workmanship.

As for the rest they aren't even worth mentioning. I took eleven horses with me and because of the judge I mentioned before holding up the show with her own horses, I only got to show nine of mine before it got so late that I had to leave. The show was supposed to be over by 7pm, I left at 6 and there was going to be at least another hour till my last two horses classes would have been gotten to.

Needless to say I don't think I'll be doing that again anytime soon. Live and Learn, I think I'll stay in the studio from now on.

New house and a Baby

Yikes has today been very, very busy! Today we(meaning my parents since I live at home) went to settlement on our new house and my younger sister decided to go in to labor a week earlier than her scheduled c-section. So now I have a new nephew to add to my niece and will soon have a brand spanking new studio not to mention my own lower level efficiency apt/ in-law suite. I see lots of back pain in my future Starting tomorrow we have to begin moving into the new house while at the same time moving my sister and her brood out of her apartment into our current house which she will be renting from our parents(of course she won't be able to help, again ) Not to mention getting my show string together for CRAB my very first show at the end of the month. Can we say insane?

Here is a pic of our newest addition with my niece, I still need to get some good shots of the new house and I'll have to post a tour of the studio once I get it set up.

Who knew?

How dependant I am on my computer. I didn't until my computer crashed as the beginning of the month.
I was at a total loss, not only is my reference library on here but so is my entire portfolio from 2004 to today, eek! And of course I have never backed anything up(bad me!) leaving me in a panic that I was about to lose everything. Needless to say regular back-ups will now be part of my routine.
 Now that I'm back up and running I've been playing catch-up for the last few days, working through my backlog of e-mails(slowly), doing a light overhaul of my Website and of course you'll notice the changes I've made to my blog, I've got a lot done, but I've got a lot still to catch up on.

When did mediocrity become marketable?

I have been seeing more and more sub-par models being listed not only for sale but as sold with high ranking show ribbons and NAN cards in recent months. Now I'm not going to name names, I have nothing against these artists and that would not be fair if I did, but I'm very confused as to why their work consistently sells while I struggle to move my mine.
One of these particular artists work I just saw cleaned up on NAN cards at a recent show, which just boggles my mind seeing as their work is obviously grainy(can be seen not only in person, but in their sales photos as well) and I have a couple of pieces that I bought as bodies(though they were being touted as LSQ) by this person and the prepping was sub-standard with primer being clearly visible through inadequate layers of grainy pastel, unfilled pin holes and uncleaned seams. To me this person seems to have potential, but everything I've seen from them so far looks rushed, half finished and they are clearly not using references for 99% of what they are doing.
Two other artists work that bug me, suck, not in the derogatory way, but literally suck in all the light and reflect nothing, making their pieces look very one dimensional. Apparently nobody has ever explained highlights and low lights, any sort of shading as a matter of fact, to them and they must not see how far from lifelike their work is. But I guess they don't care since they have no trouble selling their work.
I know, I'm sounding very catty, but when I see stuff like this selling when my stuff, that I've stressed over and tried to make the best it can possibly be, sits and collects ciber dust waiting for me to break down and let it go for body price or less. What am I doing wrong, and when did the tide of realism turn to except what formerly would have barley passed for PSQ as LSQ?

Sick and tired of being sick and tired.

I've been battling a kidney stone for the last month which has really put a crimp in my studio time. Well last Tuesday I finally passed the stupid thing and foolishly though I was on the road to recovery, also know as being able to get back to the studio. Wrong, I got one whole day of feeling halfway decent when I got hit with a stomach bug, which I probably picked up when I was in the hospital for the stone. Ug! Today is the first day in almost two weeks that I've been able to eat a real(not soup and toast) meal, yea! I've been trying to do some work but it has been very slow going and most likely will continue to be for at least for a few more days as I get tired sooo easily and the antibiotic that I'm on isn't helping.

Moment of insanity!

I bought a Trad Scarlett! OMG!!! My first grail and the most I've ever spent on a model, she's in hand and I'm still having panic attacks :) Now I have to decide on what color to paint her.

Getting the big girl did inspire me to finally get to work on her diminutive sister.

Now to pick a name and breed for her :P

Newest endevor :)

My muse has been riding me pretty hard for the last week or so, I have sculpted and painted three OOAK medallion/wearable art pieces.

"Grace" a smutty palomino Arabian type reaching down pendant

"Bruce" a silver dapple drum type pendant

And "Bonnie & Clyde" a svelte red head of TB type and a slightly disreputable mixed breed paint fellow in a pin format.

As soon as I find time I'll be listing them on the MH$P.

Belated B-day gift

To myself. A few weeks late, but finally done never the less! I love the way she came out and she is my current favorite "Dream Horse" Her name is "My Jaded Alibi" and she is a fresian sport horse filly. I just fell in love with the real filly I used as her reference the first time I saw her and knew that the PS yearling body that I had sitting down in the studio would be perfect for her. She now has a newly sculpted braided mane and tail, filled profile and moderate feathering on her legs. She then got a nice soft minimally roaned black coat topped off with her semi-leopard mapping, spots and haloing. Oooh I'm so in LOVE!

Still waiting for the snow to melt

Spring can't come soon enough. I am so sick of all this snow, it is no longer pretty and white but more a gray tinged mud brown slop. We have lost at least one bush in the backyard that snapped under the weight of the snow, and I am dreading the possibility of flooding in the basement as the snow melts. As it is, it is so cold down there that I haven't been able to work much, primarily because the florescents flicker too much for me to stand for very long.

I was able to get in some photo time and finally got some good pics of my PS yearling

"Lucky Penny" that I got from the January e-mail offer. Otherwise I've kept myself busy mostly sewing purses and have made a couple of really cute ones. My current favorite is one I made out of a pair of jeans that I loved but had worn to the point they were falling apart.

Hopefully back to the horses soon!

HOLY CRAP!!!!!!!

It's snowing yet again! Just what we needed. We had 29 or so inches over the weekend and now have at least a additional 8-10 and it's not supposed to stop till around dinner time tomorrow.
I can't wait for spring :)

A very long winter!

Welcome to the blizzard of 2010! Yay more snow(yes that is sarcasm.) I can't wait for winter to end, as this has been a long cold less than pleasant one so far. Aside from the cold and snow I spent a night in the hospital the week before last thanks to my first kidney stone, FUN! Needless to say that kept me out of the studio for over a week, then it got so cold that it has been unpleasantly cold down there and there is no end in sight as they(the powers that be at the weather service) are calling for even more snow on Wednesday :( If it ever warms up again I would love to get back to work.

Yesterday was a good day :)

A very good one in fact. I made two sales! Which is great, but surprising seeing as I haven't been able to move anything in six months plus. Now to see if my order that I made with one of those sale to Stone goes through :)

Deal of the day

Was in Ollie's today and found a Breyer Flash, which I had been wanting for a custom idea I've been playing with, and not only was he the only Flash left, but all toys were 50% off! Now only if I didn't have a killer headache I could be working on him. oh well there is always tomorrow :P

Holidays, Teasers & Resolutions

First off Happy Holidays!
Not much to say in a long time, it was a wet, dreary, unproductive summer that kept me out of the studio preventing me from doing much of anything :( Hopefully the new year will be a more productive one. On a different front, in the last month or so I have been quilting more than anything. I got a new(used, but new to me :P ) sewing machine and am currently working on a queen/king bedspread and will post pics when I get the top finished.
Teaser part two! In 2010 I will be releasing a large little bit scale draft mare resin. Venus will be $130 prepped and postage paid in the US. I'll post pics of her as soon as I finish the presentation paint on the original, if anyone is interested in reserving a copy, the down payment is $25 and I'm estimating a run of around 50.
Now for the resolution. I resolve to try to be a better blogger in the new year!
Everyone be safe,
Later

News & a exciting tease :)

Now on M$HP a "Commission Me" drastic swishy LP. Lot of changes to this gal! Totally resculpted face(ears, eyes, cheeks, jaws) lowered and turned neck, mane, new topline and mare parts. She is totally seamless and just waiting for some color. I don't have the space to keep her, so I'm trying not to get any more attached to her and am hoping someone makes a offer on her soon :)

On to the tease :) Hopefully if all goes well I'll soon have a mold of my large LittleBit scale draft mare Venus, soon to be followed by casts avaiable for purchase, price to be determined later.